Bangladeshi citizens are subject to a specified limit on foreign currency spending when travelling abroad. But the amount spent on air tickets purchased by card will not count towards the travel quota, according to a Bangladesh Bank circular issued on Monday.

If a customer spends a certain amount from their card to purchase a ticket, the relevant bank may refill the same amount in foreign currency to the card after verifying the necessary documents and transaction, according to the circular.

Under Bangladesh Bank’s guidelines, Bangladeshi citizens can spend a maximum of $18,000 a year on overseas travel, while the limit was previously $12,000. But the cost of air tickets will remain outside the $18,000 limit.

Until now, proceeds from ticket sales could only be received locally through domestic banking channels. Under the new directive, however, foreign airlines operating in Bangladesh will also be allowed to receive and settle ticket-sale proceeds through their own international payment settlement arrangements outside Bangladesh. This facility will not apply to domestic airlines. Domestic airlines will continue to follow the existing local acquiring and settlement rules when selling tickets for travel from Bangladesh to any destination abroad.

Income of foreign airlines settled outside Bangladesh will be adjusted against the respective airlines’ remittable surplus income, and banks will have to submit regular reports through the module specified by Bangladesh Bank.

Bangladesh Bank said Bangladeshis would now be able to purchase tickets from foreign airlines more easily and at more competitive prices using international cards, adding that reducing complications related to international payments would also make airline operations more efficient.